Who Should I Start? Nick Mullens or Sam Darnold

Thursday, August 15, 9:45 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Thursday, November 21, 4:51 PM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (foot) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice and is on track to play this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's practice in case he faces a setback. Darnold enjoyed a nice bounce-back showing this past weekend against the Tennessee Titans as he threw for 246 yards and two scores. This was a stark contrast to the poor showing he had in Week 10, where he tallied 241 yards with no scores and three interceptions. Overall, Darnold has enjoyed a great debut campaign in Minnesota as he has thrown 19 TDs and added one with his legs through 10 games. Fantasy managers should view him as a low-end QB1 this weekend, as he will face a tough Chicago defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing QBs this season.